Chapter 1

"Ms. Miller, we've confirmed that your marriage certificate is fake. Forging one is illegal, so we'll need your cooperation in the investigation."

"People even fake marriage certificates these days?"

"She must've been tricked. Poor thing…"

With the staff and a few couples staring, Elena Miller walked out of the city hall in a daze. The sun was blazing overhead, yet she felt cold inside.

Yesterday, Justin Riggs suddenly agreed to marry her, starting a new chapter in their five-year relationship.

Later that night, the bedroom was thick with desire. Just as things reached their peak, a phone call broke through. For once, Justin stopped and picked up.

"Don't be ridiculous. The marriage certificate with her is fake. I married you two years ago."

He spoke in a rare foreign language, but Elena understood him. Justin's friends all knew that language too, and to fit in, she'd secretly taken a class to learn it.

"I'm still jealous. I wish she didn't exist."

"Don't be childish. Lena's innocent. Wasn't the car crash enough? She lost the use of one leg. She'll never dance again. Nobody's going to challenge you for the Dance Queen title.

"If you stir up more trouble, I can't promise I'll be able to cover for you."

"And… what about the baby?"

"Once she gets pregnant and has the child, I'll make sure the baby ends up under our names. Now behave. She's nothing compared to you. How could I ever fall for her?"

Even in her shock, Elena's mind slowly cleared.

So, that car crash two years ago wasn't an accident at all?

A truck had suddenly gone out of control and barreled toward her, nearly wrecking both her legs. She spent over two weeks in the hospital to save one, but she'd never dance again.

She'd gotten her mother's talent for dance and could've had a bright future.

Later, Justin told Elena it was just an accident. He said he didn't mind her bad leg, and she was grateful. She fell even harder for him.

But now she knew the truth. It had all been a setup. Justin had lied to her. He had even married the one who caused it, and now they wanted her to have a baby for them!

After a sleepless night, Elena went to the city hall first thing in the morning to find out the truth. In the end, it hit her like a slap in the face.

She forced a smile and said she'd only been joking. Luckily, the staff didn't press her. They scolded her a little, then let her go.

Her phone had been ringing for a while before she finally snapped out of it and picked up.

Justin's voice came through, low and husky, carrying that drowsy edge that made it all the more magnetic. "Already on your way to the office?"

Elena forced her voice to stay steady. "No, something came up."

"Where are you? I'll come get you."

Her eyes stung. She thought of how he used to promise her—no matter where she was, no matter when, he'd always come for her, and they'd go home together.

But now, did they even have a home together anymore? He'd already married someone else two years ago, betraying her physically and emotionally.

"Lena?"

Tears slipped down Elena's cheeks, but her voice remained calm. "No, it's fine. I still have things to do. I'll go on my own."

She wouldn't budge, and Justin had no choice but to give in.

When the call ended, she tried to sort through the tangle of thoughts in her head. In the five years she'd been with Justin, he'd always kept himself above reproach.

Back in college, he was the handsome student body president. After graduation, he was the striking, wealthy CEO. Women chased him nonstop, but he stayed indifferent and cold, except with Elena.

So, who was the woman he'd married two years ago? And what about that car crash?

…

By noon, Elena reached the office.

The staff in the CEO's office greeted her one by one. "Good day, Ms. Miller."

She nodded quietly, acknowledging them without a word. Her desk was already buried under stacks of documents. She went through them, selecting a few to take to Justin for his signature.

He sat behind his desk, handsome and composed. His presence was commanding even in stillness. He carried an air of quiet authority. When he saw her, that intensity eased noticeably.

After signing the documents she'd brought, one by one, he looked up at her with worry in his eyes. "You don't look well."

"I'm just a little tired. It's nothing serious."

"This project's been rough on you lately," Justin said, reaching up to gently pinch her cheek.

Then, as if by magic, he produced a long box. "A little surprise."

Elena took the box without a word and opened it. Inside was a breathtaking diamond necklace. She recognized it instantly as the latest limited edition from Solara.

Justin stood and drew her into a hug, lowering his head as if to kiss her forehead, but she turned away. She felt nothing but disgust.

Justin's eyes darkened slightly. "Lena?"

Over the years, he'd given her countless gifts. Each one brought her surprise and joy. So, why did this time feel different?

"Thank you. I really like it," Elena said, lowering her gaze as she closed the box. "But this is the office. Let's not get too cozy."

Justin smiled and reached up to run his fingers through her hair. "You're always so thoughtful."

Back at her desk, she set the box with the necklace aside without thinking. She had to admit, Justin really did know her tastes.

If she hadn't known he'd betrayed her, getting this necklace would've made her just as happy as she always was when he gave her gifts.

On her lunch break, Elena went through all of Justin's social media, looking for anything unusual, but there was nothing. Besides his work posts, it was all about her.

He often posted about them as a couple, much to the eye-rolling of his friends. But scrolling through those once-cherished moments, she felt nothing but numbness.

Then a post grabbed Elena's attention. One of the likes was from an avatar showing a pale, delicate hand holding a necklace. The necklace looked just like the one Justin had given her.

A pang of suspicion hit, and she clicked into the person's profile. The latest post, from just a day ago, read, "Someone sent me this necklace from miles away. I love it so much!"

The necklace in the photo was exactly like the one Justin had just given her. It was the latest limited edition product from Solara. There were only two in existence.

Elena couldn't help laughing out loud. Justin had gotten one for her and the other for another woman. Was this his idea of sharing the love?

She exited the app and booked a flight for a month later. She still had a project with her team that wouldn't be finished for another month. It was everyone's hard work, so she couldn't just walk away.

But in a month, she'd be gone. She'd leave this place and leave Justin behind for good.

After booking the ticket, Elena opened a chat window.

"Dad, I've decided. I'll come home and help run the family business. I'll go along with the arranged marriage, too."

Chapter 2

Justin emerged from the office as the evening settled in. His suit jacket was slung over his arm.

Elena had just stood up when he said, "I've got a dinner meeting tonight. You should go home first."

A dinner meeting? She hadn't heard him mention it before now.

She looked up, meeting his eyes, which were still as intense and captivating as ever. She used to trust him completely, without a second thought.

Still, she replied evenly, "Got it. Don't overdo it on the drinks."

Justin ruffled her hair with a grin. "I'll keep that in mind."

Elena hailed a cab and followed him all the way to the airport.

The place was packed, but she spotted Justin right away. He wore a custom black suit that made him look even sharper and polished. His striking features were impossible to miss.

A long-haired woman rushed into his arms, and he didn't pull away. They held each other tight, looking like the perfect couple.

After the hug, she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. He leaned back slightly and said something, but she didn't relent, and in the end, she pressed her lips to his.

Seeing them kiss deeply made Elena feel sick. More than anything, she was shocked. The woman was Justin's adopted younger sister, Nadine Riggs.

Nadine had lost her parents at three. Because her family had long-standing ties with the Riggs, they had taken her in. She had grown up alongside Justin as his sister.

When Elena and Justin first got together, he'd introduced her to Nadine. Back then, Nadine had always welcomed Elena warmly, treating her like a sister-in-law.

Nadine had gone abroad three years ago.

Elena never would've guessed that the supposed siblings were involved in such a secret, illicit relationship, and that they'd even gotten married!

So Nadine was the one behind that car crash?

Later, Elena was even more stunned to find that Justin had brought Nadine back home.

"Lena, Nadine's back in town. Let her stay with us for a while," he said, as casually as if nothing had happened.

Elena's hands clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

She still remembered the first time Justin had brought her home. He had pulled her into his arms and said, "This will be our home from now on, Lena. Just the two of us."

She'd always thought this would be hers and Justin's forever home, and she'd poured endless hours and effort into it. Every detail of the decor carried her touch, and every piece of furniture had been carefully picked.

And now, Justin was bringing another woman into what had been their home.

"Hello, Ms. Miller," Nadine said, smiling, though her eyes held a hint of mockery and provocation.

The warmth she'd once shown Elena five years ago had disappeared. Now, she addressed her formally as "Ms. Miller".

Justin looked at Nadine. His gaze was filled with both a warning and helpless indulgence.

Elena thought bitterly that Justin really knew how to crush her pride. If she didn't see the truth, she'd probably still be foolishly playing the part of "sister-in-law" to Nadine.

How ridiculous that must look to them.

"Jus, does Ms. Miller not want me here?" Nadine asked, looking at Justin with fake innocence. Her eyes were shimmering with tears.

"I know I must be bothering you two. Maybe I should just get a hotel. I can manage on my own…"

Justin frowned at Elena, about to speak, but she cut him off. "It's fine."

His words caught in his throat.

Elena's expression was calm. "Stay as long as you like, Ms. Riggs."

Then, she turned and walked back to her bedroom.

Nadine still treated Elena like an enemy, unaware that Elena had long stopped caring about the marriage, or about Justin. If there was ever a reason to be at odds, it was only that car crash.

But Elena didn't act on it, or let a hint of her feelings show.

Nadine felt uneasy. She'd expected Elena to lash out at Justin, but instead, she stayed unnervingly calm.

Nadine scoffed to herself, confident it didn't matter. She'd just wait until Elena realized she was nothing more than a fake "Mrs. Riggs", and then see if Elena could still hold her composure.

Justin felt uneasy and followed Elena into the room. "Lena, you really don't mind?"

He knew she wouldn't snap at him, but he'd expected her to be at least a little bothered. After all, he'd promised he wouldn't bring anyone home without her say-so.

"No, I don't," Elena replied with her back to him. Her face was calm and unreadable.

"I always knew you were the sensible one, Lena."

Justin hugged her from behind. His warm breath made Elena tense up, though he didn't notice.

"Lena, Nadine is my sister, which makes her your sister too. And lately, I've been planning to work with the Millers from Hupolis. Nadine has close ties with them—"

Elena interrupted, "What did you just say? Nadine has connections with the Millers from Hupolis?"

"Yes. While she was abroad, she built connections with the Millers, and Mrs. Miller Senior took a liking to her."

Elena laughed out loud.

Justin looked at her, puzzled, but continued, "You know the Millers from Hupolis are one of the four most prestigious families. With Nadine involved, my work with them will go much more smoothly."

"Great," Elena said, still smiling. "Congratulations in advance, Mr. Riggs. I hope you get exactly what you want."

Chapter 3

Late that night, Elena couldn't sleep. Her mouth felt dry, so she got up to grab some water. As she walked past Justin's room, she noticed the door was cracked open. A dim yellow light was shining through.

After hearing that phone call last night, she'd said she wasn't feeling well and moved to the guest room. Now, faint sounds carried from behind Justin's door. They sounded unmistakably intimate.

Soon, Justin's breathless voice came through. "Stop it, Nadi. This is my house."

Nadine's voice was playfully flirtatious. "What? Are you afraid she'll find out? Jus, what are you so scared of? We're the ones who are actually married."

Justin's voice suddenly became serious. "It's over between us, Nadi!"

"Jus..."

"If it weren't for helping you get away from your abusive ex-husband, I never would've married you. Lena's been with me for five years. She's my girlfriend, and she'll be my real wife one day.

"Once things with you are settled, we'll—"

His words cut off as those intimate noises started up again.

Elena came back to herself and only then realized that her hands were shaking uncontrollably. A trace of mockery flashed in her eyes.

Justin was about 6 feet 3 inches tall. Could Nadine really force a kiss on him if he wasn't willing? And was marriage honestly the only way she could break free from her abusive ex?

The two of them were obviously having an affair, yet they dressed it up with such a lofty excuse.

"Jus, don't you miss what we had? Elena could never satisfy you the way I did!"

Justin's voice came out ragged and raw with passion. "Nadi…"

Then came the sounds of unrestrained passion.

Elena had already recorded it all on her phone. Her stomach turned so hard she couldn't hold it in. She bolted for the bathroom and gagged over the sink.

The whole thing was gross and absurd.

After stepping out of the shower, Elena saw a message from her client. There was a problem with the project, and she'd have to work through the night to fix it.

She was already exhausted, but made herself keep going. As she turned on her laptop, a memory came back to her.

When Justin was running for student body president, she'd run all over campus campaigning for him, smiling until her face hurt and pouring all her energy into it.

After he won, she kept herself busy with every little thing that had to do with him. Once they graduated, she joined his company and devoted herself completely to his career.

A dull ache in her stomach snapped Elena out of her thoughts.

This would be the last time she helped out. She wasn't doing this for him. She was doing it for herself and her teammates, for the work they'd poured their hearts into over the last six months.

All the sacrifices of the last five years, the excruciating pain from the car crash two years ago, the leg she'd lost along with her dream of dancing, and the sickening sound of Justin with Nadine hit her in turn.

She'd uncovered the truth, and now that she did, they would all pay.

…

Elena stepped out of the bedroom early in the morning. The scent of breakfast greeted her immediately.

She turned to see Justin in the kitchen, cooking sunny-side-up eggs while oatmeal simmered beside him.

Nadine stood in the doorway, smiling at him. "Jus, even after all these years, your homemade breakfast is still my favorite."

"Go ahead and grab a seat."

As Justin spoke, he glanced back at Nadine, and in that instant, his eyes caught Elena's. He demonstrated the same gentleness he always had on mornings like this.

"Morning, Lena."

A wry smile flickered at the corner of Elena's lips. Five years together, and Justin had never so much as cooked for her.

Even on the nights she drank herself sick trying to help him close a deal, he hadn't made her a single bowl of oatmeal. He'd just have someone bring her food.

She'd always thought he was the kind of man who never lifted a finger. Apparently, she just wasn't worth the effort.

Chapter 4

"Morning, Ms. Miller."

Nadine turned around. She was wearing a V-neck shirt, and with the same calm expression, she tugged the neckline just enough to show the hickeys on her chest.

A wave of nausea hit Elena, and she quickly turned away.

Justin stepped out of the kitchen with a plate of sunny-side-up eggs. Noticing her reaction, he hurriedly said, "Lena, let's head to the office together in a bit."

Without looking back, Elena said, "I'm not going to the office. I'm going to the hospital."

"The hospital? Are you feeling sick?" Justin set the plate on the table. "I'll come with you."

He stepped toward her, but Nadine caught his arm. Her voice was soft and wounded. "Jus, did you forget? You promised you'd be with me today…"

Just as Elena expected, Justin hesitated and stopped in his tracks. She didn't have time for his hollow act. She left without him.

Justin watched her walk off, and for a moment, a strange knot of unease tightened in his chest. But he shook it off.

He wasn't going with her to the hospital, but that didn't make it the end of the world. She loved him, and even if she might be upset, it wasn't worth stressing over.

…

At the hospital, after Elena's check-up, the doctor went over her results. "Your stomach condition has gotten worse. I'll prescribe some medication. Take it exactly as directed."

Elena let out a relieved sigh. Thank God she wasn't pregnant.

The doctor looked serious. "Ms. Miller, have you been overworking again? Staying up late, eating irregularly? You're young, but if you don't take care of your stomach now, it could lead to serious issues later."

Elena gave a wry smile. She had thrown herself into that project while neglecting her health. But now that it was wrapping up, she didn't need to push herself so hard anymore.

"Thanks, doctor. I'll be more careful."

"Make sure you look after yourself, not just for now, but in the long run."

Elena hummed in response and said softly, "I won't let it happen again."

After picking up the medication, she made her way to the office.

As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, a soft, friendly voice reached her. "We're all colleagues now. Just a little treat. Please, help yourselves."

"Wow, pastries from Winterberry! Those are expensive!"

"That's really generous of you, Ms. Riggs."

"I'm glad you like them."

Everyone in the CEO's office crowded around Nadine like she was the main attraction, and she passed out the pastries one at a time.

A colleague spotted Elena and called out, "Ms. Miller, you're here! Come meet our new team member, Ms. Riggs."

Nadine looked up. Her lips curved into a smile that was sharp, teasing, and almost triumphant.

Elena's brow furrowed, but she let it pass, moving straight to her desk without a word.

Her assistant, Naomi Watson, sidled up with frustration and hurt written across her face. "This isn't fair, Ms. Miller."

"What's wrong?" Elena asked, already turning on her computer to adjust the project schedule.

"You've poured so much effort into this project. Why should someone else get to reap the rewards?"

Elena froze. "What are you saying?"

Naomi bristled. "Mr. Riggs just announced that the project you've been managing all this time is being handed over to Ms. Riggs, starting today!"

Elena felt heat rise up to her temples.

No wonder Nadine had given her that look earlier. Nadine had swooped in and claimed months of her work without lifting a finger.

Elena pushed herself up and strode into Justin's office. "You're putting Nadine in charge of my project?"

As if he'd seen her question coming, he stayed calm and answered gently, "You've been working way too hard. You even went to the hospital today. I'm worried about you. It's best to let Nadi take over the project."

Elena sneered. "The project's almost done. The hardest part's behind us. Who'll be listed as project lead when it's finished? Who's going to get the credit?"

She'd been running herself ragged for this project, and Justin, with one careless remark, expected Nadine to reap all the rewards.

His expression darkened slightly. "Lena! I want Nadi involved in our future deals with the Millers. If she gets some credit here, it'll make things smoother later. Don't you get that?"

Chapter 5

Elena watched Justin speak with unwavering certainty, and the storm of anger that had been raging inside her suddenly faded.

She'd seen right through him all along. What was there to be disappointed about?

If he wanted to hand the project to Nadine, let him. It was just that Nadine might not be up to the task.

Justin saw the sudden calm settle over her, and his expression softened. He rose, came over, and took her hand, which felt icy in his.

"Lena, as Nadine's brother and sister-in-law, we should give her a little support, don't you think?"

Elena jerked her hand away. Her eyes were sharp and cold. "If you say so."

Justin's brows knitted together. He seemed slightly annoyed at her attitude. But since she no longer cared who was in charge of the project, he didn't voice any blame.

Instead, he said, "Nadi just took over this project and doesn't know much yet. You'll have to help her a lot."

A second ago, he'd insisted it was to spare her from overworking and to protect her health. And now, he was asking her to help Nadine.

Elena's eyes probably gave away too much sarcasm, because Justin cleared his throat awkwardly and asked, "How was your visit to the hospital today? Nothing serious, I hope?"

His concern came too late to make her feel touched. It only made him seem more ridiculous.

"I'm fine. I'll be going now," she said flatly.

Justin watched her walk away, and that faint unease crept back inside him. But it vanished the moment Nadine pushed the door open.

She approached Justin cautiously. "Jus, Ms. Miller isn't mad, is she?"

Justin gave her a reassuring smile. "No. Don't worry. Lena's always sensible."

"Oh, that's good."

But despite her words, she was anything but pleased. She'd taken Elena's project, yet Elena hadn't made a scene with Justin.

Nadine had hoped for an outburst, something to rile Justin up, to drive a deeper wedge between them. But Elena? She knew exactly how to stay calm.

Nadine sneered to herself. Her eyes glinted as a plan took shape.

"It's my first day, Jus. Why don't we host a dinner tonight and invite everyone from the CEO's office? It'll help me get to know them faster."

Justin didn't hesitate. "Sure. I'll have someone handle the reservations immediately."

Before long, word of the dinner had spread to everyone.

"Why the sudden dinner?"

"Isn't it obvious? It's to welcome Ms. Riggs."

"So what's her deal? She has the same last name as Mr. Riggs. Are they related?"

"No way. The way they look at each other is electric. You can practically feel the chemistry. Having the same last name is probably just a coincidence."

"So she's his girlfriend? I always thought he and Ms. Miller were a thing."

"Doubt it. If they were really together, everyone would know by now."

The gossip chat group was buzzing with excitement. Elena scrolled through it, expressionless.

Nadine had barely been at the company a day, and already everyone in the CEO's office had noticed the way she and Justin flirted. They were practically glowing with it.

Elena remembered how she had once wanted to make her relationship with Justin public at work, but he'd said, "Lena, the office is for work. Let's not drag our personal life into it."

She'd thought he was just trying to keep his personal life private, so she'd gone along with it. Looking back now, it was clear he'd been reserving the "CEO's wife" spot for Nadine all along.

Elena hadn't wanted to go to dinner that night, but a few colleagues were so determined that she had no choice but to follow them to the restaurant.

Everyone knew the dinner was meant to welcome Nadine, so someone immediately raised a glass to toast her.

But Justin cut in. "Nadi can't drink for health reasons. I'll take hers."

He lifted his glass and downed it in one gulp. Then, he made sure to order a glass of juice for Nadine.

The room buzzed with hoots and cheers. Being out of the office seemed to give the CEO's office staff, usually cowed by Justin, a newfound boldness.

"Mr. Riggs is so considerate toward Ms. Riggs."

"Mr. Riggs really is a good man."

Nadine's cheeks flushed pink. "You're exaggerating… He's just being nice because I'm sickly."

"Oh, Ms. Riggs, don't be modest. It's obvious he cares about you."

"Mr. Riggs, we're toasting to Ms. Riggs tonight. Are you going to drink it all?"

Justin glanced at Nadine beside him. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "No matter how many toasts there are, I'll drink them all for her."

"Wow…"

Everyone was amazed. No one had expected Justin, who was always so cold and distant, to act this way when it came to love.

Elena sat alone in the corner. Her eyes were fixed on the glass of wine before her.

She remembered the nights she'd attended social events together with Justin, her downing one strong drink after another, while he never touched a single one for her.

She'd been so naive. Just a few words of concern from him after she finished a drink, or having someone fetch her a hangover remedy, and she'd have felt like he truly cared.

But now she knew what real care looked like. It was Justin, refusing to let Nadine have even a single glass—not even a weak beer—because he simply couldn't bear to see her drink.

"Ms. Miller."

Nadine's voice, dripping with false sweetness, cut through the air. Elena looked up to see her standing there with a glass of wine.

"I hear you've been running things around here for a few years and earning everyone's respect. Since I'm new here, I figured it's only polite to offer you a toast."

She held the glass out.

Elena remained composed. "I'm sorry. I've been having stomach issues lately. I can't drink."

Nadine put on a wounded look. "Ms. Miller… Did I do something wrong? I was only trying to offer a toast. I didn't mean anything by it."

Elena said nothing. She was just telling the truth.

Nadine turned to Justin. Her expression was pleading.

Frowning, he said in a cold, detached voice, "Ms. Miller, Nadi's your new colleague. You should accept her toast."